Lawsuit balks at PUC 'stakeholder' meeting

A helicopter watches cable being pulled through the pulleys on transmission towers as workers scurry up and down the towers above Japatul Valley Road near Alpine Thursday. Behind them is Bell Bluff, where operations were challenged due to the eagle nesting on Bell Bluff, however, the CPUC permitted SDG&E to continue working.
— Peggy Peattie / U-T San Diego

A helicopter watches cable being pulled through the pulleys on transmission towers as workers scurry up and down the towers above Japatul Valley Road near Alpine Thursday. Behind them is Bell Bluff, where operations were challenged due to the eagle nesting on Bell Bluff, however, the CPUC permitted SDG&E to continue working.
— Peggy Peattie / U-T San Diego

The legality of a "stakeholder" meeting in San Diego between select members of the public and state utilities regulators is being challenged in court.

The March 20 meeting in La Jolla has been advertised as a chance for three groups of 20 people to meet with commissioners and staff of the California Public Utilities Commission about topics such as renewable energy and infrastructure. It takes place the day before a meeting that will be open to the public -- also in San Diego -- at which commissioners will consider granting permission for two new natural gas power plants in San Diego and Otay Mesa, among other matters.

A lawsuit filed Monday in state Superior Court by former San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre seeks an injunction to block the stakeholder meeting, citing provisions of California law pertaining to public meetings.

"It is required to be open to the public, not closed and only open to those the commission deems worthy of an invitation," states the lawsuit on behalf of San Diego resident Masada Disenhouse, whose request to attend the March 20 event was declined because the guest list was full.

An online flier for the event draws a distinction between the commission's open meeting and the stakeholder session, in which "each group will have the chance to meet with every commissioner and the directors, advisers and staff of various CPUC divisions."

"This is a chance to discuss State policy -- and how it affects our region -- directly with the decision makers," the notice states.

Utilities commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said the stakeholder meeting in San Diego would be the fifth in a series. She had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.

"The purpose of these meetings is to open a conversation, create a partnership, and see where the CPUC might be of service to the local community," Prosper wrote in response to an inquiry prior to the lawsuit.

Space is limited and local government officials are sometimes given priority, she said.

A request by U-T San Diego to attend the meeting was turned down because all seats were filled. Cancellations could open up new invitations, an organizer said.